Roof batten

ABSTRACT

A roof batten made of plastic which inhibits the pooling of water by permitting water that may accumulate beneath concrete roof tiles or other lug mounted tiles, to pass through the batten. The batten has spaced upper and lower skins of sheet plastic connected by a series of spaced struts disposed normal to the skins. The struts are preferably uniformly spaced apart. The battens will range in length from about eighteen inches to preferably three feet, but can be realistically used in lengths up to six feet. The plastic used permits the battens to be nailed, screwed, or stapled to the roof sheathing for use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This patent pertains to a device that is used for the disposition of concrete tiles and other tiles on a roof. The device is attached over roofing paper in a spaced relationship and the tiles are set thereupon. The structure permits rainwater to pass through rather than accumulate on the structure. This application discloses and claims subject matter disclosed in my earlier filed provisional application Serial No. 60/364,671 filed Mar. 13, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tile roofs include several layers of different materials in sequential order. Typically over the trusses and/or rafters, there is a layer of exterior plywood or other sheathing. The next layer is roofing paper or felt which is conventionally applied. Next come batten. These are spaced horizontal strips usually of wood upon which the individual tiles are disposed or overlaid.

[0003] While the most common batten is a long ½×1½ wood strip, of nominal 1×2 problems have arisen in the industry from the use of wood battens. It is known that if water is allowed to collect or stand on the roof structure, it could infiltrate through the rotting roofing paper and seams between felt overlap and actually penetrate the sheathing. This condition leads to roof deterioration, interior mold, and permanent damage.

[0004] When wood battens are used and installed horizontally, water which has passed through or between the tiles can accumulate behind a batten and form a small pool.

[0005] There is a need therefore for a replacement for the roofing industry, which replacement does not permit water to back up and ultimately cause destruction.

[0006] An attempt was made to replace wood with the device disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,193, issued Mar. 19, 2002, to Morris. This patent discloses corrugated plastic material in an inverted U-shape used as the batten. This product has not been successful in the marketplace because the material has delaminated during the course of use.

[0007] Thus the need for a new batten still exists that will eliminate the pooling of water, and which is low in price, and easily installed. This invention fills that need.

[0008] The invention accordingly comprises the device possessing the features, properties, the selection of components which are amplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

[0009] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A roof batten made of plastic, preferably polypropylene in the range of ⅜ to 1 inch in elevation, by 1.5 to 3 inches in depth, the batten has spaced top and bottom skins, parallel to each other with normally disposed spaced struts between the two skins. The battens can range from 3 to about 6 feet in length for easy installation on the roof sheathing.

[0011] It is a first object therefore to provide a new roof batten for the installation of concrete tiles and other tiles.

[0012] It is a second object to provide a new batten that is lightweight and easy to install.

[0013] It is a third object to provide a roof batten that inhibits the pooling of accumulated water on a roof by permitting water to pass therethrough.

[0014] It is a fourth object to provide an easily installed roofing batten which requires little or no special tools for installation.

[0015] These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will readily understood from the disclosure to follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0016]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the device of this invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a top perspective view thereof.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a typical pitched roof installation of the battens of this invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the deployment cement roof tiles on the battens of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] The structure of this device 10 of this invention comprises a pair of spaced self-supporting sheets of plastic; such as polypropylene, of the desired dimensions with a series of spaced struts disposed uniformly between the spaced skins. Reference is made to FIG. 1 wherein device 10 is seen in front elevation. Skin 11 is spaced from skin 13 and parallel thereto. A series of struts 15 are disposed at ninety degrees to the two parallel skins 13,11. The spacing between any two pairs of struts 23,25 or 25,27 may be the same or different as may be desired. Whatever the spacing may be, it should be the same throughout the entire depth of the batten such that the flow of water is not inhibited.

[0021] Each channel 40, as denoted in FIGS. 1 & 2, is bounded on its top and bottom by a segment of the skin layer and on its two sides by any two spaced adjacent struts.

[0022] In the construction of the battens of this invention, the struts of series 15 maybe spaced between ⅜ and 1 inch apart. The thickness of each strut; such as 23, may be between {fraction (1/32)}″ and about {fraction (3/16)}″ thick, but ⅛ is preferred. The thickness of the upper and lower skins maybe between {fraction (1/16)}″ and about {fraction (3/16)}″.

[0023] Battens are most easily utilized in long strips from about 18″ to 6 feet in length. The total elevation may range from ⅜ to 1 inch. Struts are ⅜ to 1 inch apart.

[0024] While polypropylene is the preferred plastic, other plastic materials that can withstand being stapled or nailed into place, without shattering, may also be employed. Thus, the use of certain styrenes and polyethylenes as the base material is also anticipated.

[0025]FIG. 3 shows how batten 10 of this invention is attached as noted by stapling or nailing to a felt or roof paper 21 covered sheathing 33 of roof 30.

[0026] In FIG. 4, a roof tile 40 is seen resting or disposed upon a batten 10 of a typical roof 30.

[0027] The battens of this invention can be utilized with any type of roof tile; including, cement, clay, slate, or metal that has a lip that can rest upon and over the edge of the batten. That is, the tile overlays the upper skin and part of the rear surface of the batten during the course of installation of the tiles. It is to be noted that the term roof tile is not limited to cement or ceramic material but also includes individual sections made of the other enumerated materials. Any lugged roof product is supportable thereon.

[0028] When linearly installed, as shown in FIG. 3 and properly overlaid with a course of tiles, it has been found that the battens reduce installation time for a roof as they are lighter and easier to handle than wood battens, and there is no “fear” of splinters. But more importantly, water does not create a pool behind the batten. Rather it flows through the batten and down the roofing paper. Indeed, wood battens must be cut, with a saw or broken which can cause damage to the felt. Whereas plastic battens can be easily trimmed with scissors, tin snips, or knife.

[0029] Some wood battens warp badly making it impossible to use. Some wood battens are rotten and therefore wasted. Our battens lay flat and straight and there is no waste from rotting.

[0030] Also, wood battens absorb water which promotes rotting. Ours will not hold or absorb water.

[0031] The battens of this invention can be used in straight roof sections and in valleys as well. Because of their benefits, the battens of this invention have received an ICBO Registration of Approval and have been issued an “Evaluation Report”.

[0032] The material utilized for this invention is made both offshore and in the USA. The dimensions set forth above for the battens makes them strong enough to be stepped on by roofers and strong enough to retain the lugs of the tiles.

[0033] The most common color for these battens is white, since white reflects heat away and the instant battens are easily visible.

[0034] It is seen that there is provided a new batten for clay, concrete, and other tiles that is easy to install as by nailing or stapling, and which permits water to flow therethrough. Thus roof damage is inhibited. The batten is attached by placing it at a 180 degree angle straight across the sheathing with one skin in contact with the roofing paper and nailing or stapling or screwing through skins into the sheathing.

[0035] Since certain changes maybe made in the described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

I claim:
 1. A new roof batten comprising a pair of spaced parallel skins, connected by a series of spaced parallel struts normally disposed to said spaced skins; wherein the skins and struts are plastic, said plastic capable of being conventionally attached to roof sheathing; and wherein the series of chambers defined by any two struts and the skin over and under said chamber permit the passage of water therethrough when the batten is attached to the sheathing.
 2. The batten of claim 1, wherein the plastic is polypropylene.
 3. The batten of claim 2, wherein the batten is between ⅜ and 1 inch between the skins.
 4. The batten of claim 2, wherein the depth of the batten is about 1½ to 3 inches, and the spacing between struts is from about ⅜ to 1 inch apart.
 5. A roof batten adapted to be nailed, screwed, or stapled to roof sheathing for the disposition of roof tiles thereon; wherein each batten comprises: a pair of spaced skins, each skin being about {fraction (1/32)}″ to {fraction (3/16)}″ inch thick, and from 1½ to 3 inches in depth; each of the spaced skins connected by a series of normally disposed spaced struts, ½ to ¾ inch in elevation, each strut spaced about ⅜ to 1 inch from the next adjacent strut to define a series of adjacent chambers; and said chambers permitting water to pass therethrough when said batten is mounted generally horizontally on a roofs sheathing with one skin in contact with said sheathing.
 6. The batten of claim 5, being constructed of a plastic capable of being nailed, stapled, or screwed to a roof.
 7. A roof adapted for the disposition of roofing tiles by lugs on said tiles, said roof comprising sheathing covered over by roofing paper and having a series of spaced battens mounted thereto; and each batten being made of plastic and being capable of passing water therethrough to prevent pooling.
 8. The roof of claim 7, wherein each batten in the series has an upper and lower sleet plastic skin spaced from each other, said skins being connected by a series of spaced parallel struts, each batten having an overall elevation of about ⅜ to 1 inch and being from about 1½ to 3 inches deep.
 9. The roof of claim 8, wherein each batten ranges from 18″ to 6 feet long.
 10. The roof of claim 9, wherein the plastic used is polypropylene.
 11. The batten of claim 8, wherein the struts are uniformly spaced apart.
 12. A roof batten made of polypropylene comprising spaced, aligned, upper and lower skins of sheet plastic, connected by a series of normally disposed struts, uniformly spaced apart, wherein each strut is about ⅜ of an inch away from each of its adjacent struts, and the total elevation of the batten is about ½ inch.
 13. The batten of claim 12, wherein the depth of the batten is about 1¾ inches.
 14. The batten of claim 12, wherein the batten is about 4 feet in length. 